Repression of flagella motility in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 by mucin components

► The influence of mucin on the gene expression of EHEC is firstly reported. ► The 732 EHEC genes regulated by mucin were identified. ► The genes associated with flagella biosynthesis were significantly down-regulated in the presence of mucin. ► The swarm motility by EHEC was significantly reduced in the presence of mucin. ► Our results imply that mucin represses the flagella motility of EHEC.